Rules and Tools!

Who doesn’t love Bob Harper, Biggest Loser’s wonder trainer? If you are ready to make a change, he provides 20 steadfast rules for weight loss. Some of them are common sense suggestions, others are tried and true choices made by contestants on the show. Bob also includes four weeks of meals suggestions and many delicious recipes. One thing is for sure, if you stick to these standards changes for the better will come your way. Check out The Skinny Rules: The Simple, Nonnegotiable Principles for Getting to Thin by Bob Harper. DB

Kiss My Aster

Who Are You, Anyway?  According to the author of Kiss My Aster, Amanda Thomsen, you are either a weekend warrior, born to be a farmer, you want to spice up your landscape or you want to read her book to get a few chuckles and then hire someone to do everything (and that’s okay).  This graphic guide is everything you need to create a fantastic yard but it’s tailored to YOU.  Grasses, shrubs, flowering shrubs, best plants for shade gardens, soil, compost, trees, thinning trees, annuals.  This book devotes about two to three graphically fun pages to each topic with fun headings such as “Tree to be you and Me” or “Dropping Acid (or Alkalinity)”  The fun doesn’t stop there!  You can find everything from mad libs, to a gnome coloring page to reading about nine ways to get some shade (use a giant inflatable Godzilla is one suggestion).  Enjoy this book which is actually chock full of great tips, hints and information. SG

Guest Blogger - Star Kennedy

Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman is a novel about Teddi Overman.  It takes place in Kentucky and Charleston, S.C.  The book is about Teddi's life and her love of restoring furniture.  It is also about her family and a tragedy that takes place in her 20's.  The book is written with many flashbacks.  I really enjoyed this quick, easy read.  It was a heartwarming story.  I also really liked the message - Never lose hope! SK

A Contest!

Well known authors, athletes, musicians, designers and more all share what we would find on their Ideal Bookshelf.  The ideal bookshelf could be books we choose to keep, books that are pretty to display, books we would want on a desert island or perhaps books that have changed our lives in a significant way.  Do you want to share your ideal bookshelf?  Stop by the library to fill out a form and receive a chance to win a copy of My Ideal Bookshelf by Thessaly La Force.  SG

Homes That Make You Smile

Looking for some inspiration for the home?  I just picked up Oxford's copy of Happy Home: Everyday Magic for a Colorful Life by Charlotte Hedeman Gueniau, a gorgeous book full of vibrant and whimsical design ideas.  From floral rugs to colorful place settings, you're sure to start brainstorming for your own space as you browse through this fun and beautiful book.  HM

If you haven't seen The Red Shoes you should know that the library has a remastered copy of it.  This is a visually spectacular movie from the 1940s that is known world-wide for it's stunning, award winning scenery and for it's ballet within a movie.  Don't be put off by the word ballet if you're not a fan - this movie is so much more.  Based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale The Red Shoes, which is the story of a young girl taken over by a pair of red shoes who dances herself to death, it's the story of Vicky, the young ballerina waiting for her big break, Julian the composer, likewise ready to launch his career, and Boris Lermontov, the ballet company owner who controls their fates. Partway into the movie we see the creation of a new ballet which launches the careers of Vicky and Julian.  That ballet is The Red Shoes which is then shown within the movie (approximately 20 minutes long).  Not to be missed!  SG

It's Party Time!

If hostess duties unnerve you, take a look at You’re so Invited: Panic less, Play more, and Get your party on by Cheryl Najafi. She has unique theme ideas for 10 different occasions, which include decorating tips, recipes, and general advice. Nobody is left out--there is a pirate party for boys, a spa party for teen girls, and even a cigar party for the guys. Cheryl also talks about worst-case scenarios and hostess recovery reactions to make things run smoothly. Less stress, good times--let the fun begin. DB

Walk Down Memory Lane

Want to know how to make a Terrarium?  Interested in reading The Elves and the Shoemaker? Need a recipe for popcorn balls or want to quickly plan an indoor scavenger hunt?  The Simple Joys of Grandparenting by Abigail R. Gehring has it all.  Chock full of stories, recipes, games and crafts this beautifully illustrated book is a pleasure to read.  There are even ideas for long-distance activities so if your grandchildren don’t live nearby you can still get in on the fun!  I hate to admit that I am reading it for the simple pleasure of a walk down memory lane, since it includes so many things I remember from my own childhood.  SG

Why not...knot?

Not many books open with a poem by Sting, about knots of all things! ("For what is a rope but a story, a plot, A beginning, an end, and in the middle a knot...") Not many books are written by someone who has walked a wire illegally rigged between the World Trade Center's twin towers. Not many books have a cord embedded in the cover with a clear plastic cover over it! This book by Philippe Petit, Why Knot is about so many things. On the surface of it, it is indeed a book on how to tie knots. Sixty knots, to be precise. The author says he knows how to tie about 200 knots out of the estimated four thousand in existence. It's about the history of knotting and the different kinds of rope. There is a short illustrated chapter on terminology of knotting such as "To reeve or to dress: to pass the end of a rope through any hole or opening,(to reeve a pulley, to dress a block and tackle). Lastly, each knot and how to tie it is illustrated with drawings by the author and various stories about the use of the knot. Just a fabulous, unusual book! ML

Floral Frenzy

If you don’t have a green thumb, but love flowers, try making your own. Paper crafter Jeffery Rudell provides instructions and patterns for beautiful blossoms in his new book Paper Blooms: 20 elegant flower designs to cut and fold. The natural beauty of these paper creations is truly amazing. Rudell’s work has been featured in several magazines and highlighted at Tiffany’s and The New York Botanical Garden.These bouquets are perfect for any occasion. Happy Crafting! DB  

What Do You Dig?

Summer Reading is about to begin and we're excited to get everyone involved by sharing "What Do You Dig?"  Stop by the library and add your favorite book to our favorites display and be sure to jot down what you dig on our white board.  To kick off the fun I'm going to list a couple books and movies that I DIG:  The Lord of the Rings is my first selection in both book and movie.  I have to admit there are parts in the movie that I disagree with but the director and writers still did an outstanding job trying to capture J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy.  Next up is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.  Now I have to start off by saying I can't stand classic novels or books that are super wordy but this book was great.  I read it for a book group and we enjoyed it so much we ended up discussing it for three months.  I also dig Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, another classic (go figure!).   As far as favorite movies I would rank Amelie and Cloverfield as something I would watch more than a few times.  Share what you dig!  SG